Youth reiterates demand for a seat at the decision-making table

As Youth Month celebrations take shape across South Africa, some young people are demanding real influence in shaping the nation’s future, saying they are tired of the “blue tick” culture.

They say it’s time that they be part of decision making in the country and meaningful participation.

Scores of young people formed part of an online webinar under the ‘Hold My Hand’ campaign led by KeReady, which aims to help children and teenagers take their rightful place in society.

In South Africa, this demand is even more significant given the country’s youthful population.

According to Stats SA, the country has about 21 million young people – who account for at least 33.1% of the population.

The young people say it’s no longer enough to speak about the youth. What’s needed now, they say, is to speak with them and let them lead.

They cite food security, crime, lack of mental health support, unemployment as the issues that hold them back and need urgent attention.

“As young people we have been showing up in different spaces such as the Africa’s Children Summit, the National Children’s Dialogue because we have something to say. What we are saying is that we want to be taken seriously, not just to be listened to but to be part of the decisions that affect our daily lives,” says 17-year-old Seqobela Leboli.

Her peer, Bontle Motasa, says the lack of youth representation in economic discussions is concerning.

“It is an indicator of the continued distrust in our opinions and ways of thinking.”

Motasa is also advocating for the creation of safe spaces for children to be able to make their voices heard, including those living with disabilities.

Another young leader, Gomolemo Pooe, stressed the need for educators who are passionate about their job.

“There are teachers who have love for the profession, when they speak, you can hear that they speak out of love, such teachers motivate children to see school as something to enjoy and look forward to. Around the township, children don’t like going to school after exam season because they feel like there’s no need, but if there was a teacher that made school fun, who made children want to go to school and learn, children would go to school.”

He added that there’s a need to deal with the literacy issue plaguing the sector.

The young people also made a clarion call to the media to amplify the voices of young people, not just their stories.

Keready’s leader, Dr Katlego Selikane, says the webinar underscored the need for the media to move beyond tokenism and truly hand over the mic to children and teenagers.

She added that the youth-led organisation seeks to challenge harmful norms, like South Africa’s relationship with alcohol, among others.